No sign of new protests in Iran as a hard-line cleric calls for executions

"As Iran returned to uneasy calm after a wave of protests that drew a bloody crackdown, a senior hard-line cleric called Friday for the death penalty for detained demonstrators and directly threatened U.S. President Trump evidence of the rage gripping authorities in the Islamic Republic. Trump, though, struck a conciliatory note, thanking Iran's leaders for not executing hundreds of detained protesters, in a further sign he may be backing away from a military strike."

"Harsh repression that has left several thousand people dead appears to have succeeded in stifling demonstrations that began Dec. 28 over Iran's ailing economy and morphed into protests directly challenging the country's theocracy. There have been no signs of protests for days in Tehran, where shopping and street life have returned to outward normality, though a week-old internet blackout continued. Authorities have not reported any unrest elsewhere in the country."

Iran returned to uneasy calm after a wave of protests that drew a bloody crackdown. A senior hard-line cleric called for the death penalty for detained demonstrators and directly threatened U.S. President Trump. President Trump thanked Iran's leaders for not executing hundreds of detained protesters, suggesting he might be backing away from a military strike. Executions and the killing of peaceful protesters were identified as red lines for possible U.S. action. Harsh repression reportedly left several thousand people dead and stifled demonstrations that began Dec. 28 over the economy and morphed into challenges to the theocracy. Tehran showed outward normality, though a week-long internet blackout continued. Authorities reported no unrest elsewhere.

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